Former National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunday Udeh-Okoye, has resigned from the party, citing a prolonged leadership tussle and a loss of moral direction. In a letter dated October 13 and addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Agbogugu, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Udeh-Okoye said his decision to quit did not come easily, noting that the party had been an integral part of his political journey. However, he said he could no longer remain in a system that had strayed far from the ideals of its founding fathers.
“The PDP that once stood as a beacon of hope for democratic governance has regrettably lost its moral compass and ideological direction,” he wrote. “After much contemplation, I have come to the solemn conclusion that I can no longer, in good conscience, remain within a system that has drifted from its original purpose.” Udeh-Okoye added that he was leaving to pursue “a progressive journey dedicated to restoring the values of democracy, accountability, and service to the people,” which he said the PDP had abandoned.
His resignation comes amid renewed tension within the PDP over the national secretary position, a post he had fiercely contested. Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal affirmed Udeh-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary, replacing Samuel Anyanwu. The party’s National Working Committee subsequently acknowledged the ruling and notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the decision. Despite this, internal resistance persisted, with Anyanwu questioning Udeh-Okoye’s authority and the legitimacy of his actions in party affairs, including a controversial postponement of a National Executive Committee meeting.
The former lawmaker, who represented Awgu North in the Enugu State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2017 and served as PDP National Youth Leader between 2017 and 2021, is one of several influential figures exiting the party in Enugu. His departure coincides with the reported plans of Governor Peter Mbah to defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that analysts say could reshape the political landscape in Enugu and weaken the PDP’s dominance in the South-East.
Udeh-Okoye’s exit further underscores the deepening crisis within the opposition party, which has struggled to maintain unity and ideological focus in recent years. As one of the prominent young leaders once seen as part of the PDP’s reform generation, his resignation is viewed as both a personal protest and a reflection of the internal fractures threatening the party’s survival.
